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Need advice: I'm buying a Laptop.


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Posted by humphreybc
Hello all, firstly, thanks in advance for helping me out.

Now, I am looking at buying a Laptop to replace my desktop PC that I sold so I can have portability etc.. but I want a small, inexpensive and powerful one.

Of course, the ones that happen to be small and powerful are usually the opposite, expensive!!

I went down to Harvey Norman today and had a look at some. I quite like the HP Pavilion DV6614TX. They have it for $2500, which is a good price I think.

I want something to play games well, an example of my requirements would be Company of Heroes on a medium-high setting. Others include Brothers in Arms and Battlefield 2. Because of this it would have to have it's own independent graphics card, so no integrated graphics.
I also want quick processing speed, inbuilt WiFi, a DVDRW.

Most of the laptops that Noel Leeming have

(http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/hp/computers/computers/laptops/notebooks/c10005-c9001-c10181-c101811-b15302657.html)

are available at Harvey Norman, so if you see anything better than the DV6614TX on there then that'd be ideal, provided it isn't too expensive.

These are the DV6614TX specs:

Features

* 2.0GHz Intel Centrino® Duo processor
* 250GB Hard drive
* 2GB DDR2 Ram
* Super Multi 8X DVD±RW Drive
* 15.4" Widescreen Display
* Windows® Vista Premium

Specifications

* Intel® Centrino® Duo processor technology featuring Intel® Core 2 Duo processor T7250 (2.00 GHz, 2 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
* 250GB 5400RPM Hardrive
* 2GB DDR2 (2 Dimms)Ram
* LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD±RW with Double Layer Support
* 15.4" WXGA High Definition BrightView Widescreen Display
* Windows® Vista Premium
* NVIDIA® GeForce 8400M GS (NB8M/G84M GS) up to 893MB TurboCache total graphics memory with 128MB dedicated
* Intel PRO/Wireless 802.11a/g/n; Bluetooth, Integrated 10/100 LAN
* Integrated 5-in-1 digital memory reader slot


Once again, thanks for the help!!


Posted by shyam335
Try to get a notebook with 8600 GT,8400GT (or 2600pro/XT) at least..

I thought acer 5920G had 8600 GT,but in that site its listed as 8400 GS ?

Posted by technical-expert
Hi,

I suggest Hp dv 2500 series (14.1inch), u can find it in hp site

I have dv9500,17inch it looks cool,but finger print magnet

only problem is windows vista not stable.

Go for Hp it looks better than everything and price is fair compared to sony
(which slightly looks better)

With Hp u get best of both worlds go for 14.1 inch dv 25xx series



Posted by Danny_BFC
Gaming capability is terrible on Vista. I downgraded to XP because of this.

This was before i got Battlefield 2 but my mate tells me theres no online play with Vista. Oh and his is a Alienware so its not his spec.


Posted by humphreybc
Thanks for the info, i'll enquire about the 2500 series when i'm next at Harvey Norman.

So you think the graphics card in the one I am looking at isn't that good?
I'm only used to graphics cards in Desktops - so have no clue about laptop cards.

So what's this about vista being crap with games? How is it crap? Just not supporting many or what?

Posted by Cycovision
The 8400m is a midrange card so it might struggle with the very latest games at high detail levels. The vista issue with gaming is mainly down to compatibility although of course the latest DX10 games work fine with it (they have to!)

Posted by shyam335
Its a lower end card actually,the 8800M GTX being the highest atm.
8600M GT is the midrange..
Even 8600M GT will have trouble with playing all new games in laptop's native resolution..So try to get at least 8600M GT...

Posted by humphreybc
OK thanks, problem is the laptops become more expensive then haha.


What particular laptop can you suggest? (That's available in retail shops in NZ)

I sort of want to future-proof myself, because I don't actually have $3000 lying around at the moment, i'm going to be paying it off weekly. If I do that then it takes a couple of years so I don't want to still be paying off a laptop in two years that is incredibly ancient technology, you know what I mean?

I realise the rate of computers advancing is ridiculous, new cards/cpus come out literally every month so ANY computer would be severly outdated in 2 years - but I don't want to have it completely outdated.
If it can play current games at a good res and AA etc on, then i'm happy. So what you're telling me is that the DV6614TX can't play current games at a good res with AA and still maintain a decent framerate?

Appreciate all your help!

Posted by snugglez64
Wat ever laptop u get make sure u get a x64 cos the next windows (Windows 7, or wat ever they gonna call it wen they release it) will only b available on 64bit machines, so if u get a 32bit machine u will have 2get a new ones again in a about a year or2 cos windows 7 is said 2 hav all the other stuff they left out of vista..

I read it in a windows vista tweaking ebook i have, cnt remember which 1 exactly..

Posted by humphreybc
Surely Microsoft wouldn't release an operating system that limits 95% of the market (people with x32 only PC's) from buying their product.



[ This Message was edited by: humphreybc on 2007-11-28 03:44 ]

Posted by Cycovision
The "64 bit only Windows" is just a rumor as far as I know but If you take into consideration that the next totally new version of windows probably won't appear for about 3 or 4 years (Remember how long vista was delayed for!) then it's quite possible.

Although it would make sense to buy a 64bit CPU anyway if you want future proofing, for when publishers finally start making 64bit compatible versions of applications and games as a default option.


[ This Message was edited by: Cycovision on 2007-11-28 11:22 ]

Posted by humphreybc
Right. Well knowing me, I probably wouldn't have a laptop for 3-4 years - i'd definitely be upgrading by then. Haha.

So, what can you guys suggest?


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